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Peeling off gel or dip manicures is never a good idea, yet it can be incredibly tempting. But those few moments of satisfaction are rarely worth it when you’re left with weak, brittle nails that snap the moment they hit another surface. And while it’s frustrating to realize you’ve sabotaged your own nail health, there’s no need to spiral: The best nail strengtheners can help restore your nails to their former glory.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: Isdin Si-Nails Strengthening Nail Serum, $39
- Best Drugstore: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails Strengthener, $4
- Best for Skin Nails: Typology L93 Hand Nail Serum, $31
- Best for Intensive Repair: CND Nail Strengthener RXx, $21
- Best Base Coat: Chanel La Base Camélia Base Coat, $32
In This Story:
- Do nail strengtheners really work?
- What actually helps you nails grow?
- What to look for in a nail strengthener.
- How long does it take to see results in nail strengtheners?
- Meet the experts.
Even if you don’t get your nails done, they are still exposed to daily stressors that can weaken them over time. Board-certified dermatologist Alicia Zalka, MD, explains that our hands and nails come into contact with countless touch points throughout the day, enduring mini traumas from manual work, environmental stressors, temperature extremes, and low humidity. “Self-care for nails is a must, especially if you’re exposed to the elements or work frequently with your hands,” she says. Nails are particularly vulnerable when subjected to frequent water exposure or harsh chemicals, making proper care essential.
Below, we share 10 of the best nail-health products including nail-strengthening serums, base coats, and primers, according to experts. Plus we answer common questions, like what actually helps nails grow, whether nail strengtheners really work (spoiler: they do!), and what to look for when seeking out one.
Best Overall: Isdin Si-Nails Strengthening Nail Serum
- Why We Love It: This nail serum is a concentrated formula designed to strengthen weak, brittle nails. It comes in a convenient, easy-to-apply pen format, allowing for precise application to the nails and cuticles—without any mess. Zalka explains, “It contains hyaluronic acid and castor oil, which help attract and lock in moisture to keep nails and cuticles hydrated. Think of it as a conditioner for your nails and cuticles.”
- Key Ingredients: Silanediol salicylate, pistacia lentiscus gum, cationic hyaluronic acid
- How to Apply: Click once per nail, once a day, for optimal results
- Size: 2.5 ml
Best Drugstore: Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails Strengthener
- Why We Love It: A classic, budget-friendly option, this nail strengthener helps improve nail hardness and prevent breakage. Board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi, MD, notes that its formula, enriched with nylon and superhard resins, helps reinforce nails while preventing chipping and breaking. “It forms a protective barrier, strengthening nails, increasing their resilience to damage, and enhancing their natural hardness.”
- Key Ingredients: Nylon, natural omega-3, and soy
- How to Apply: Apply two to three coats on bare nails
- Size: 0.45 fl oz
Best for Skin and Nails: Typology L93 Hand Nail Serum
- Why We Love It: Typology, a French brand known for its clean, natural skin-care formulations, applies the same philosophy to this nourishing nail serum. “The serum not only strengthens nails but also cares for the skin on your hands, which is often neglected,” says board-certified dermatologist Dara Spearman, MD. Formulated with hemp-seed oil, it provides moisturizing and anti-inflammatory benefits while helping to maintain pH balance for dehydrated nails. While it’s not necessarily a growth promoter, its blend of plant-based keratin and hyaluronic acid works to strengthen, condition, and deeply hydrate the nails.
- Key Ingredients: Plant-based keratin, hyaluronic acid
- How to Apply: Apply three to four drops to your hands and nails morning and evening, then gently massage until fully absorbed.
- Size: 0.50 fl oz
Best for Intensive Repair: CND Nail Strengthener RXx
- Why We Love It: CND, known for its professional-grade products, delivers a nail strengthener that actually works. The formula is packed with keratins and proteins to fortify the nails, while key ingredients like cellulose, silica, celery seed extract, and camellia oil help smooth and strengthen. “This is designed to target the root cause of nail weakness, restoring nails to a nourished, healthy state,” explains Spearman. As with any treatment, following the instructions is key—apply daily for four days, then remove and reapply, repeating the process for a total of 14 days.
- Key Ingredients: N/A
- How to Apply: Start with two coats on clean, bare nails on Day 1, then apply one coat daily on Days 2 and 3. On Day 4, remove and repeat the cycle for optimal results.
- Size: 0.5 fl oz
Best Base Coat: Chanel La Base Camélia Base Coat
- Why We Love It: This luxurious formula not only enhances the longevity of your manicure but also promotes healthier, stronger nails over time. It leaves a smooth, matte finish, making it a great option for both treatment and everyday wear. As the name suggests, it functions as a protective base coat, but it also contains a blend of nurturing ingredients like camellia oil, alpha hydroxy acids, and cellulose, which help fill in ridges and smooth the nail surface. If discoloration is a concern, Zalka notes that it provides a color-correcting effect using natural mineral pigments to help offset mild discoloration.
- Key Ingredients: Camellia oil, cellulose
- How to Apply: Use alone for a natural-looking manicure or as a base coat before applying color.
- Size: 0.4 fl oz
Best for Preventing Yellowing: Manicurist S.O.S. Base Coat
- Why We Love It: For very damaged nails, Zalka recommends this strengthening formula enriched with nitrocellulose, alpha hydroxy acids, and antioxidants to help restore nail health. It can be worn on its own for a natural look or used as a base coat before applying polish. “It also prevents yellowing by protecting nails from the effects of dark polish,” adds Spearman. Unlike many nail products that can be harsh on both skin and the environment, this one is eco-friendly, made with vegan and cruelty-free ingredients.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin B5, vitamin C, AHAs
- How to Apply: Use alone as a strengthening base coat or apply before your polish for added protection.
- Size: 0.5 fl oz
Best Primer: Tenoverten The Rehab Base Coat
- Why We Love It: Compared to base coats, which create a smooth, protective layer for polish, nail primers are the secret to making gel, acrylics, or dip nails last longer by boosting adhesion and preventing lifting. But if you’re going au naturel, Shirazi explains that this hydrating and fortifying primer supports overall nail health with a blend of essential oils and proteins, making it perfect for use before polish or as part of a weekly nail-care routine.
- Key Ingredients: Celery seed extract
- How to Apply: Apply regularly as a rehabilitating base coat under nail color. When used alone, apply twice a week to strengthen nails.
- Size: 13.3 mL
Best for Daily Use: Essie Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener
- Why We Love It: When picking up your next Essie polish, why not add this strengthener to your cart? Shirazi says its formula is enriched with proteins, vitamins, and minerals to help reinforce the nail structure. By reducing brittleness and breakage, it promotes smoother, stronger nails with consistent use. “It’s an ideal choice for nails that are prone to peeling or weakness,” he adds.
- Key Ingredients: MSM technology
- How to Apply: Use alone as a strengthening base coat daily.
- Size: 13.5 ml
Best for Peeling Nails: Nail Tek Nail Strengthener Xtra 4
- Why We Love It: Designed for soft, peeling nails, Nail Tek Xtra 4 features a protein-enriched formula that helps restore nail health. “It reinforces the nail matrix, enhancing strength and flexibility, and is particularly beneficial for nails weakened by frequent polish removal or exposure to harsh chemicals,” explains Shirazi.
- Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed wheat protein, vitamin B5
- How to Apply: Apply one coat and leave as is for a natural look, or use as a base coat before applying color.
- Size: 0.5 fl oz
Best Polish: JINsoon HyperRepair Nail Treatment
- Why We Love It: This nail enhancer is designed to restore nail health by hydrating, strengthening, and nourishing. Formulated with AHAs, vitamin C, and hexanal, it helps rejuvenate the nail surface, promoting a smoother, healthier appearance. “Many users find it highly effective in improving nail health and preventing breakage—it’s one of my top-selling products at JINsoon, and clients swear by it,” says manicurist Jin Soon Choi about her creation.
- Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B5
- How to Apply: Apply one coat and leave as is for a natural look, or use as a base coat before applying color.
- Size: 15 ml
Do nail strengtheners really work?
Yes—but all of our experts agree that it depends on the condition of the nails and the ingredients in the formula. Choi explains, “Nail strengtheners help prevent breakage and protect nails from damage, but it’s important to understand that strengthening weak nails is a gradual process requiring consistent application.”
It’s also important to distinguish nail strengtheners from nail hardeners. Spearman clarifies that while nail strengtheners work to improve the nail from within, nail hardeners simply create a protective coating on the surface.
Zalka categorizes nail strengtheners into two types: replenishing products and protective products. Replenishing products, such as serums and oils, help restore moisture to the nails and surrounding skin, addressing dryness and brittleness. Protective products, like base coats or layered applications, act as a coat of armor, sealing the nail to prevent breakage and damage.
What actually helps your nails grow?
Spearman emphasizes that nutrition, hydration, proper care, and minimizing damage are key factors in promoting nail growth. Deficiencies in biotin, protein, iron, vitamin C, and zinc can slow growth, so supplementation may help if your diet is lacking. Like skin, nails need moisture—using cuticle oils, hand creams, or natural oils like olive and coconut oil can keep them hydrated and prevent brittleness. Proper nail care is also essential, which means avoiding overfiling, pushing cuticles back instead of cutting them, and wearing gloves when cleaning to protect against harsh chemicals. Lastly, minimizing stress and trauma—like using nails as tools or repetitive movements such as typing—can help prevent unnecessary damage.
Shirazi adds that genetics and age also play a role in nail growth, meaning that while we can optimize nail health, growth rates will still vary: “Sometimes, the best treatment is simply leaving them alone—frequent gel applications, excessive filing, and constant polish removal can weaken nails over time.”
Zalka explains that nails are made of keratin, just like hair, and grow from the nail matrix, located under the cuticle: “Much like split ends in hair, ridges or texture irregularities in nails signal damage. Keeping nails moisturized and protected from UV exposure is just as important as it is for your skin and hair.”
What to look for in a nail strengthener
Choi explains that the most effective nail strengtheners contain a combination of key ingredients that target nail health and resilience. Hydrolyzed keratin reinforces the nail’s structure, while biotin boosts keratin production for overall strength. Calcium and peptides improve flexibility and reduce brittleness, while antioxidants like green tea extract and vitamin E can help protect nails from environmental damage and promote healthy growth.
Spearman adds that ease of use is just as important—a simple, convenient application increases compliance and ensures consistent use. Look for hydrating and nourishing ingredients, as well as quick-absorbing, nongreasy formulas that make daily application effortless. A clear or subtly tinted option is ideal for those with workplace restrictions on nail polish.
Choosing the right type of nail strengthener—whether a base coat, top coat, serum, oil, or polish with built-in strengthening properties—is key to meeting individual nail-care needs. It’s also best to avoid ingredients that may weaken nails over time, such as formaldehyde, commonly found in nail hardeners, which can cause brittleness; toluene, which is drying and poses potential health risks; camphor, which dehydrates nails; and parabens, which can act as allergens and hormone disruptors.
How long does it take to see results in nail strengtheners?
With consistent use, you can expect to see stronger, healthier nails within two to four weeks, says Choi. Achieving full results typically takes six to eight weeks, depending on your nails’ initial condition and how often you apply the strengthener.
Zalka notes that fingernails grow about 3.47 mm per month (or 0.1 mm per day) and tend to grow slower in winter and with age. While noticeable length growth may take a few weeks, improvements in nail plate appearance, smoothness, and surrounding skin softness can often be seen within a week, she adds.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Dara Spearman, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, specializing in melanoma and skin-cancer care.
- Dr. Azadeh Shirazi is a California-based board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology.
- Dr. Alicia Zalka is a board-certified dermatologist, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University, and founder of Surface Deep.
- Jin Soon Choi is an editorial manicurist and founder of the JINsoon Spas and JINsoon Nail Lacquer.